Narrow Gauge
A Forties Memory
Return to 1947 and ride behind a Santa Fe triple-headed NMRA steam fan trip over Raton Pass and a double-header on Cajon Pass. The special meets the PA powered "Chief" and the steam powered "Daylight". Ride a D&RGW articulated at Minturn. Narrow Gauge action is featured at Durango, Silverton, Chama, Alamosa, Gunnison, Salida and Marshall Pass. A rare black & white scene shows a Rio Grande Southern Freight meeting a Galloping Goose. From 16mm Color film by Billie Bowen.
24 minutes
Rio Grande Narrow Gauge
It's the 60's again and railfan Jim Marcus is filming in 16mm color some of the last trains over the Rio Grande Narrow Gauge. Lots of steam, smoke and spectacular scenery await you in this nostalgic and historic program. Follow doubleheader #498 and #487 from Alamosa to Chama. Next day #498 picks up 3 loads of lumber and loads sheep into double deck stock cars. You follow the train up Cumbres Pass. You're trackside as the last Rocky Mountain Railroad Club's Fall "Kolor Karavan" steams from Alamosa over Cumbres Pass to Durango and Silverton.
K37 #493 leaves Alamosa down the 3-rail for Chama with many unique shots along the line. Then follow a lumber train Cumbres Turn. The now abandoned Durango, Chama line is documented on a 2 day round trip with K37 #497 hauling drop bottom gons, box cars and flats of lumber and pipe. On the Farmington Branch #497 makes a round drip from Durango. #493 takes a lumber train up to Cumbres in a light snow cover. Today, the railroad is gone forever from many of the locations documented in this program.
This program features an informative narrative and a musical background has been added to the original 16mm silent film. Filmed in 1966 and 1967 by Jim Marcus.
90 minutes
Excursion to the Thirties
Tour the Colorado Narrow Gauges prior to World War II. See Colorado & Southern Clear Creek and South Park lines, the Rio Grande Southern and the Denver & Rio Grande Western with scenes of the "San Juan", The "Shavano" and the "Chili Train". From rare 8mm color films taken 1937 to 1941 by Richard B. Jackson.
52 minutes
Rails Across the Summit
Filmed on the Cumbres & Toltec, this Award-Winning 1976 program is a visual and sound experience that you’ll want to see again and again. D&RGW 2-8-2 #482 pulls an excursion train to Cumbres. It clings to the side of Toltec Gorge, then crosses Cascade Creek Trestle. There is a rare black & white sequence showing a rotary clearing snow at Cumbres.
28 minutes
Rio Grande of the Rockies
In the mid 50’s motive power on the Denver & Rio Grande Western consisted of a fascinating mixture of huge standard gauge steam engines, first generation diesels and narrow gauge steam engines...some built before the turn of the century. With his love of the steam engine, Irving E. August documented these glory days on the D&RGW in high quality 16mm color film. Mr. August donated these rare films to the ROCKY MOUNTAIN RAILROAD CLUB and by special arrangement, WB Video is honored to make these unique images available to all.
In this program, you will experience the massive Standard Gauge 3600 2-8-8-2’s blasting up fabled Tennessee Pass, see workhorse F-9 diesel power assist 3600’s up to the Moffat Tunnel and witness the legendary California Zephyr with PA diesels.
Narrow Gauge operations include long two-engine gondola trains on the Monarch Branch with its unique switchback. K-27 #453, K-28 #473 and K-37 #497 are seen in the Durango yard and the "Silverton Mixed" leaves with 3 coaches, a caboose and business cars B-2 and B-7...still in Pullman Green paint. Near Montrose #318, a diminutive 2-8-0 hurries by with a freight and at Gunnison, #268 is just in from the last run on the Sapinero Branch. K-36 #487 plows through deep snow with a flanger-ore train from Gunnison to Crested Butte. Then you are on board the last train over Marshall Pass with #483 and #489.
Irv August narrates his own story of those wonderful days on the D&RGW.
60 minutes
Silver Rails and Golden Memories
A must for every steam fan...this tribute to the 50th Anniversary of the ROCKY MOUNTAIN RAILROAD CLUB. The program was produced in 1988 from excellent 16mm films taken by Irving E. August. 1952 to 1962 of steam excursions, both standard and narrow gauge and sponsored by the ROCKY MOUNTAIN RAILROAD CLUB. This organization is dedicated to preserving the history of railroading and through these excursions, they became a part of history themselves.
Photographer Irving E. August introduces the program and narration is by Rege Cordic. The narrative is written by Dave Gross.
D&RGW NARROW GAUGE
- Alamosa to Durango - May 31, 1952
- Durango to Alamosa - June 3, 1956
- Alamosa to Farmington - June 1, 1957
- Alamosa to Silverton - Memorial Day, 1961
GREAT WESTERN / COLORADO & SOUTHERN
- Denver to Eaton - July 27, 1958
- Denver to Eaton - October 2, 1960
- Denver to Eaton - September 10, 1961
COLORADO & SOUTHERN
- CB&Q Branch to Lyons - August 24, 1958
- Owl Canyon Branch - July 19, 1959
- Denver to Lyons - October 25, 1959
- Denver to Lyons - July 22, 1962
- Denver to Trinidad - December 16, 1962
MANITOU & PIKES PEAK RAILWAY
- Last steam run on Pikes Peak - September 7, 1958
- Plus spectacular diesel powered Rotary clearing snow to summit of Pikes Peak.
UNION PACIFIC #844
- Cheyenne to Laramie - November 20,1960
72 minutes
The Sugar Cane Train
Ride the Lahaina-Kaanapali & Pacific on the Hawaiian Island of Maui behind "Myrtle", a 2-4-0 built in 1943 by Porter. From Trackside and onboard.
15 minutes